This peer reviewed article by Flannery discusses biology and evolution. She discusses the idea of evolution and the role that humans play in said changes that we are seeing play out currently. This article may be a good starting point to understand the damage of which we are imposing on the elephants in a biological manner. They need ivory and have been evolving for centuries to have larger and sturdier tusks that are used for vital every day activities. With human interference over the last few hundred (most prominently 2009) their numbers have decreased to a point where even genetic diversity is lacking, putting a lot at stake for these creatures, elephants and rhinos alike.

Williams’ peer reviewed article discusses a lot of key aspects in that must be brought to light when discussing the ivory trade. The author mentions that ivory trade and the possibilities it could bring to the economy, both in africa and in china but he also notes that ivory is used for nothing more than decoration, meaning it has no real purpose to us. Secondly, the author addresses certain issues such as a possible overpopulation if the ivory trade is banned entirely and the cultural situation in which westerners know very little and have little to do with. The ivory trade is complex and there are many things to note, and this article illustrates the different sides to the ivory trade